“Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.’” (Luke 17:15-19)  Last week we saw that faith is not so much a possession as it is a disposition.  In other words, faith is not something that we have (and control) but something that has us (and therefore controls us.)  This week we see that the appropriate response to be given the gift of faith is gratitude.  To give thanks is to acknowledge the basic nature of reality.  In the end, you and I are not free agents; we are not the principle makers of all that we have and are.  The Samaritan leper realized this and turned back.  This is why Jesus praises him.  In an era like ours which defined by progress; it is easy to think that all the important decisions and actions are future oriented.  That is, we keep moving ahead to gain what is most important.  There is some truth in that, of course.  However, our Gospel lesson challenges us to remember something else, and to turn back.  All that we have and all that we are is a gift. And so we are called to live accordingly.  We are called to turn back and say” thank you!”  In this coming week, where do you and I need to turn back and express gratitude to our Lord for what we have and who we are?  Have a great week!